Chapter Text
Classmates come bustling loudly into the class as usual. Talking about recent fights, plans after school or whatever useless thing is going on in their life.
Gray slumped at his desk next to Eugene. Ben, Gerard, and Alex had already left reluctantly to return to their classes. He's not particularly close with his friends. He was mostly forced into hanging out, but he still enjoys their company. He also doesn't think he can make a close friend. Not after Stephen.
As the teacher mumbles about maths he gazes out the window tuning out of the class. It's nothing he's not already learnt at home anyway. He hears loud indiscreet whispers from the 2 boys behind him.
"bro there's no way he beat Wolf, I bet he just made it all up"
"I know he's just skin and bones”
Gray doesn't even spare them a glance. He's used to it by now. It's not like they're actually brave enough to try to fight him and there's no point wasting his energy.
He continues staring out of the window thinking about the chores waiting for him when he gets home. He has strict routines that he set in place as a way of stability to keep himself grounded. When he didn't have this routine he would accidentally miss meals, not keep up with hygiene, and not get out of bed. He still feels depressed like he did then but it's easier to manage when he acts without thinking. Like practices every single day without fail.
The school bell rings sharply and he forces himself up to leave and starts walking home to get ready for a grimly familiar shift at work. He turns down the alley to his small flat. The area is grey and worn down with flashy pops of graffiti and tags. The street lamps flicker like trying to hold on for dear life and litter scatters the street.
When he gets to his flat there's a small pink piece of paper hanging on his door. He picks it up and reads carefully.
Rent is going up by 20%.
He just stands there still, with little reaction but that familiar feeling of misery running through him. He can barely afford his rent right now and often skips meals. How is he going to afford this?
His parents left him after the whole Stephen incident. They thought it was his fault. They were ashamed and embarrassed by him and they made sure he knew. They kicked him out without regret leaving him to fend for himself with no empathy. They gave him a small amount of money.
His mum felt a little bit of guilt and sent him textbooks and study resources but nothing else. He burned through the money from his parents fast so he had to pick up jobs wherever he could.
Still, he had to go to work today. He needed money and he would probably have to go looking for other jobs as well. He gets changed into the work uniform fast and walks to work trying not to think about how he will pay off his bills. That can come later.
He walks into the diner calmly. It's brightly lit with harsh fluorescent lights and plays cheery pop music. It's a small business. This is the only location they have. It's got a 90s vibe to it, bright red checkered patterns on the floor and bright neon signs on the wall. It smells of greasy fried food. He walks around the counter like usual heading for the back to clock in. when he spots a new waiter.
Hold on. Is that? Teddy Jin. the same boy who had tried to bully him and then they got into a fight together. Quite recently as well. If you could even call it a fight. It was almost just Gray beating up Teddy without mercy. Teddy turns around and starts speaking.
"Hi I'm Ted- Gray?" he says with a drop in his voice.
"Hi Teddy"
Teddy looks both shocked and scared at the same time, a very different look from his normal mischievous nonchalant purple eyes.
"What- what are you doing here" he says looking clearly uncomfortable.
"I work here" Grey replies calmly with no emotion or tone in his voice.
"Oh, right yeah sorry obviously, just don't start anything with me" he says fidgeting with his bright blonde hair which is tied up messily in a bun
"I wasn't planning on starting anything. Just don't try anything with me" Gray replies coldly
And then Gray walks off swiftly to get the first order.
They both work together fine, slightly avoiding each other though it's mostly on Teddy's part. Both of their shifts end and they get ready to close up the diner. While wiping down the tables Teddy says
"I'm sorry for the fight. I really mean it, I'm trying to change." Gray looks up at Teddy and just nods. In Teddy's books that's a win.
They both finish closing up for the day and clock out but Gray's not ready to go home yet. He walks out of the diner exhausted from school and his shift.
He sits down on the curb of the pavement and thinks. What is he going to do, how is he going to earn enough money to survive?
It's dark outside the cold air stinging on his ears. And then just to make his life more miserable a familiar figure walks up, with a laid back posture and his hands in his pockets, his foot in a bandage. He looks like he doesn't have a care in the world. It was Wolf. he walks up to Gray, slowing his steps and then stops and sits next to him
“Hi, white mamba long time no see eh" Gray looks at him with a stern annoyed look in his eye. nudging away from Wolf.
"What do you want Wolf" a stern tone in his voice
"Nothing, nothing, just wanted to see my favourite snake, though you look like shit moping around on the pavement like that" Gray jolts up and turns to walk away. Wolf chases after him.
"Hey, don't be like that c'mon. Fine, okay, I'm here for a reason. My boss wants to see you so just come with me and don't make things difficult aye" he says striding along next to Gray.
"Why should I follow you?" he says with an obvious answer.
"Donald Na wants to see you so you better just come" Donald Na, Donald Na. Oh, he knows where he's heard that name from. The leader of the Union is very powerful and has never lost a fight. According to Eugene. Although they are all rumours he's not stupid enough to test that fact and even though he wants to get back home sleep and maybe even find another job he goes with Wolf
"Glad you came to your senses pretty boy"
He ignores the disgusting nickname and just glares at him instead.
He follows Wolf in silence down all the streets into a dark alley. They walk around a corner and into what seems like a bowling alley. Gray just follows scanning his surroundings. what he could use to fight or places to run just in case things go bad. They walk past students smoking and drinking, cheering on each other loudly while they bowl or talking about fights and gossiping. Some of them looked at him and then quickly looked away at the sight of Wolf. They turn the corner into a small hallway of lockers. At the end of the hallway a plain grey door with what seems like a small patch of dried blood at the bottom. To be honest, he is scared, I mean who wouldn't be but he puts on his most unbothered face and walks with Wolf into the room.
It's got a cold vibe although it's not cold. no windows and a grey concrete roof and floor with a couch facing the door and a small coffee table in front of it. Sitting at the end of the room is Donald Na studying staring intently at the textbook. There's a small lamp beside. He's sitting on an office chair behind a plain white desk. The room isn't very decorative or nice for that matter. Donald is blonde with his short hair slicked up, piercing red eyes and tattoos winding up his pale skin. He glances up at Gray and puts down his pen.
"Sit" he says, voice stern
Gray walks over and sits in the chair opposite him. Wolf leaves, closing the door behind him.
"You're here because I want you to join the Union" he looks Gray dead in the eyes as if he was studying him a bit or maybe to intimidate. Gray knew his friends didn't like the Union. Although they didn't bring it up much it was clear and he also knew a lot of Eunjang students got picked on by the union. Gray puts on his best poker face and replies sharply.
"Why?'
"You're smart and you're a good fighter you've also made an infamous name for yourself at Eunjang" The words weren't compliments more stated as facts.
"What would I be doing?" replies Gray, not questioning how he knows all this information about him.
"You would be helping me make deals with businesses, write contracts, collect a few debts though I wouldn't make you collect them often that would be wasting your abilities"
"What do I get in return" Gray says
"protection, status, and money"
That's what Gray needed, money he didn't care about the protection or any status that would come with joining the Union it was the money that grabbed his attention. He didn't want to betray his friends even though they weren't close. He still felt a bit of guilt. But he needed the money, desperately.
"How much money?" Gray asks
"200 a job" Gray had just hit the jackpot. This could cover his rent and he could buy 3 meals a day and even have some left. He could either betray his friends and live without working every waking second or he could decline and find other jobs. The answer was clear to him but a tinge of guilt ran through him. He sat weighing out the risks of both options until he came to a decision. One he would most likely regret in the future.
"deal, but on one condition. Not a word about me being in the union gets said” he replied guiltily. Donald raises an eyebrow thinking for a bit and then replies
"That can be done. I'm glad to have you join us." Donald said with a smirk he leaned over and opened a drawer under the desk pulling out a slip of paper.
"Just put your contact info in that and you'll get a message about your first job soon. You can leave now "Gray nodded, filling out the paper and then got up swiftly heading towards the door. He tried to justify it but he knows he's betrayed his friends. There wasn't another option to make enough money to live.
Outside the door waiting for him was Wolf
twisting a cigarette in his hands before lighting it. He was clearly listening to the conversation. He looks at gray and then says
"So you joined the union, huh, didn't expect that considering who you hang out with."
Gray glares at him and then walks out making his way back home.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gray sat in the school lunch hall sitting at a table with his friends around him chatting noisily, Ben and Alex were arguing about who was smarter while Eugene and Gerard were talking about a new anime that had just come out. He's listening in, adding to the conversation every now and then. until his phone buzzes, snapping Gray out of the peacefulness of the room. He picks it up from the table and reads the bright screen. There's a text.
Unsaved Number |
bowling alley 5pm
| Gray
I'll be there.
This must be his first job. He glances up at his friends to see if any of them noticed but they were all focused on the ongoing conversation. Lunch is coming to an end.
"Who can go out after school? I wanna go to the basketball court and then get ramen!" Ben remarks cheerily.
"Yes, I've been craving ramen so bad" Alex replies
"Yeah, sure" adds Gerrard
"I can't, I'm sorry have to study for my computing test" Eugene says with a pout on his face
"Gray?" asks Ben with hopeful eyes. Gray looks up like he was just in another universe and got snapped back to reality. He stares for a bit realising the question.
"I can't sorry I have plans" he feels a bit of guilt wash over him but ignores it. The bell rings harshly signalling for students to go back to class.
The day eventually ends and Gray goes home and quickly changes clothes before heading to the bowling alley.
He walks down the lifeless stairs more confidently this time but still on edge. He gets a few glances but no one says anything to him as he heads towards Donald's office.
Inside, Wolf is sitting on a chair opposite Donald slouching with his arms on the back of it like the world circles around him. Donald glances up at Gray before gesturing to him to sit down. Gray walks over to them and takes the seat next to Wolf
"Fancy seeing you here pretty boy" Wolf remarks smugly
"Shut up" Gray snaps quickly giving him a dirty look before looking up at Donald who sighs before speaking.
"You two are going to a motorcycle warehouse. You need to get them to sign a contract. Gray you're going to do all the speaking and Wolf you're there for security just in case things go wrong. Though I doubt they will, the guy you're speaking to is easy to convince and it shouldn't take long." Donald states.
“Don't worry, Mamba, I’ll be here to protect you” Wolf says slyly with a huge grin on his face.
Gray rolls his eyes then nods at Donald before taking the contract in Donald's hand.
He and Wolf leave walking to the address Donald texted Wolf. It's already dark outside, the only light being the faint light of street lights.
“Nervous for your first job sweetheart?” Wolf says teasingly to Gray.
“Don't call me that” Gray replies coldly
That just makes Wolf's smirk grow wider. Clearly smug he got onto Gray's nerves.
He pulls out a thin cigarette, lighting it quickly. It's more out of habit than intentional. They walk in silence until they reach a large gate.
The gate is open clearly expecting someone. They walk until they reach the entrance of the warehouse stepping inside. Harsh lights shine down on the pair. The warehouse smells of motor oil and smoke. Standing near the door is a man wearing a neat shirt and tie, who looks at them expectantly.
“Donald Na?” he asks looking at them already knowing but just to confirm
“Yeah” Gray replies politely
They walk through the warehouse and into a small office. There are two sofas on either side of a long wooden table. The room isn't as dull as Donald's office but still not anything special.
Gray sits down on the edge of the sofa. Wolf is still standing up, arms crossed, looking around the room.
Gray greets the man introducing himself and starts explaining the contract carefully picking out keywords like he's been doing this for years. Once grays finished explaining the man looked at him and said
“How about 50% instead of 40 and I’ll sign your little contract” Gray looks at him with his usual dull eyes leaning forward and says
“No 40 if the final deal” The man chuckles a bit and replies
“I'm not arguing with a kid, 50 and that's the final deal.”Wolf comes over to the guy his eyes burning into the guy's head
“he said no”
“You teenagers don't scare me” he says with an amused smile on his face. Wolf snaps and grabs the back of the man's head slamming it down into the table with a bang. The man comes back up his nose bleeding and slightly bruised
“How about now?” Wolf says with a big grin and a glimmer in his eyes. The man looks at him with wide eyes and then quickly signs the contract not looking at either of them in the eyes
“Please go now” he pleads
Wolf both smiles, and Gray says
“Nice doing business with you” He stands up and they both turn to leave.
The street stinks of smoke and alcohol with neon signs lighting up the concrete. They're walking side by side now
“You were good at that, I was almost impressed” Wolf says
“Thanks? Don't know how much of a compliment that's meant to be” gray replies
“I'm hungry, let's get food”
“I need to go home,” Gray says, dismissing Wolf.
“What and study like you always do, nerd? Just come I'm hungry and you owe me it was basically me who made him sign” Gray rolls his eyes but follows him anyway as they walk into a shop.
Gray looks at the aisles, going to the ramen he picks out a chicken one while Wolf stands behind him taking a spicy one they go over to get drinks. They pay and get their ramen made and they walk out sitting on plastic chairs with a table outside the shop facing the street.
They eat mostly in silence
“Are you drinking coffee really? I mean, I guess it goes with the whole insomnia vibe you have going on”
“I don't think you can be the one judging my health choices ”he says quickly with no real insult in his voice
“Okay, valid, but seriously it looks like you're a walking corpse half the time. Do you hate sleeping or something?” Wolf asks with a slight hint of curiosity but mainly insult
Gray stares at the street for a moment before he just replies
“Yes,” it was the truth he did hate sleeping because no matter what day or how happy it had been it was the same disturbing nightmares of Stephen lying cold in the hospital he thought it would pass at first bit then he gave up trying he just delayed his sleep now even though every day was already exhausting.
Wolf didn't reply but just gave an unreadable look before they sat in a comfortable silence again. They finish their meals and Wolf starts smoking again as they walk back to the bowling alley with the contract. The smoke blows into Gray's face a bit wolf looks back expecting a complaint or a quick remark but nothing comes. Weird, I thought he would've hated smoke he thinks but he doesn't say anything.